Updated: 18 October 2017 –I am careful about what I put into my mouth especially when it comes to my dental health. This is because of a freak accident that happened to me years ago. So I usually go for brands that I am familiar with, and brands that have yet to disappoint me. This also means that I have never tried an electronic toothbrush before in my life as I doubt that it can help me clean my teeth and gums as thoroughly as a conventional toothbrush. Hence, when Philips sent this smart electronic toothbrush over, I was a little apprehensive. However, I have to at least give it a go, since I’m a tech writer, right?

Inside the box, you will find a delightful spread of accessories. You have a Sonicare toothbrush handle, 3 Smart brush heads, a Smart TongueCare+ brush head, a Charging glass and a USB Charging travel case. The brush heads, including the TongueCare+ brush head, have a smart chip embedded. It can automatically choose the optimal mode and intensity for your brushing needs.

I like it that Philips included 4 Smart brush heads (including the Tongue Care+ brush head) in the box.For people who didn’t know this, it is recommended by dentists to change our toothbrush every 3 months. So in this area, Philips has you covered for the next 9 months before you need to purchase additional brush heads.

One thing that surprised me is that the Sonicare toothbrush handle has wireless charging capability. I don’t think it is written anywhere on the box, but it does charge wirelessly.

All you have to do is to put the glass and the charging port together, then throw in your toothbrush and it will start charging by itself. I wouldn’t recommend having it charged in your bathroom. Water and electricity are not made for each other. But I totally dig the USB Charging travel case.

USB Charging travel case

The charging case is the perfect accessory for me. I’ve travelled quite a fair bit this year, and I don’t intend to stop flying anytime soon. So having a portable charging case definitely makes it convenient for me to keep my toothbrush charged while I’m on the move. On top of that, it uses USB cable for charging, which doubles the convenience of having it with me all the time. This is a must-have accessory in all portable gadgets!

The test

The Sonicare toothbrush handle has five modes – Clean, White+, Gum Health, Deep Clean+ and Tongue Care. To be honest, I have yet to try them all except, Clean, as it is the primary reason for me to brush my teeth. Of course, as I spend more time with this toothbrush, I will definitely try out the other functions.

There are two ways you can go about brushing your teeth. One, you can connect your toothbrush via Bluetooth to its mobile app – Sonicare. Two, you can brush with it offline.

Connecting to the Sonicare application

Connecting to the Bluetooth, running through the whole introduction on the application and the setting up of my profile took me roughly two-three minutes. Pretty reasonable.

To start brushing, put your toothpaste on your toothbrush and put it into your mouth before switching it on. I know it seems like this sentence is entirely redundant, but for the benefit of people like me who have never used an electric toothbrush in their life, this is to prevent your toothpaste from flying all over the place. You can thank me later.

At first, I was worried that the brush will be too hard for my gums and my teeth to handle. But to my surprise, it turned out to be soft and delicate, which is my type of brush head. All 3 levels of intensity are just right for me. They don’t cause any discomfort at all.

Following the instructions on the application can be a little distracting. I have a tough time trying to figure out which side to brush first. I’m sure in coming days, I will master the art of it, but for now, I’ll keep trying.

After brushing my teeth, the app provided me with feedback on the areas that I need to focus on the next time I brush my teeth. Although I have yet gotten used to the app, it still accurately indicated the areas I had problems catching up with the instructions.

Brushing without the Sonicare app

Brushing my teeth without the help of the app is less stressful than with it. What makes it even better is that it can store up to 28 brushing sessions of data. So it is not necessary to bring your phone into the bathroom twice a day.

However, to achieve optimal results, it is highly recommended that you use the Sonicare app together with the Smart Sensor technology in your toothbrush. This is the only way you can get real-time feedback on your brushing and to really determine whether it works.

So don’t go blaming on Philips for your bad brushing if you don’t use it with the Sonicare app.

I mean, why do you bother to buy a smart toothbrush when you don’t use it for what it is made for, right?

Buy or Bye?

After using the Philips Sonicare 9500 DiamondClean Smart Electric Toothbrush for a few days, I find myself wanting to learn more about it. The brush head is perfect for my teeth and my gums, and the accessories are on point. However, I do need more practice to get used to the app and the brushing techniques it teaches.

That said, the toothbrush isn’t perfect. The main issue I have with it is the weight. Its bottom is more substantial than a standard toothbrush as that’s where the battery lies. If it had a lighter battery like those used in the smartphones, the experience would have been much better.

Personally, I do recommend the DiamondClean Smart to anyone who doesn’t really know much about brushing your teeth and keeping your gums healthy. Dental health is vital to me, and it should be for everyone else. Say no to bad breathe on the morning train!

The Philips DiamondClean Smart is retailing at S$399and is available on Philips e-commerce platform and also at Courts and Best Denki.

Editor’s note:

According to Philips, the Philips Sonicare 9500 DiamondClean Smart Electric Toothbrush can remove up to 10x more plaque even in hard to reach areas, promises up to 7x healthier gums in just 2 weeks and up to 100% fewer stains in only 3 days.

This is very hard to prove in just a few days of tests. If I see improvements, I will do a second review to update you on the effectiveness of the product.